And finally, the last 2 pairs of WTC II. Phew. I believe all of my WTC re-recordings are a world better than my first versions from 2006-2008. They'll have to do FTTB but it would not surprise me if some time from now I get the urge to start all over again...

Oh, the Partitas... that other holy grail of pianism. I haven't dared contemplating them yet.

I don't think I can produce a complete Bach. In the bad old days I tried to take Bach by storm, but my Blitz got bogged down when I realized he was more powerful than I. It stalled after the first English suite and now I find myself still agonizing over No.2. There's also a lot of older Bach recordings I really need to replace. Maybe one day.... when I'm 64

I saw your post on facebook, what an accomplishment of no small feat. Doing a complete Bach recording does seem to be a task on line with climbing Mt. Everest or a challenge of similar and immense difficulty. Downloading these and will listen to them at home.

_________________"I don't know what music is, but I know it when I hear it." - Alan SchuylerRiley Tucker

Congratulations, Chris.I like these two a lot better than the end of WTC I; I think the fugues in particular are more accessible for the audience. In the last one, I felt that you had better control over the fugue than the prelude, which is the way to go in performance since the fugue is always second.As usual, your fugue phrasing kept its consistency, which makes it more enjoyable for the musicians in the crowd.

As an aside: When you redo these, are you able to separate prelude from fugue? I.e., can you redo one without having to redo the other? Seems a shame to burn a bridge if you don't have to.

Do you think the Suites might be a bit easier than the Partitas? You like Bach's music so much. So you'll carry on with it somehow, I'm sure.

I don't like Bach's music, I love it Today I was listening to the aria Schlummert ein, Ihr matten Augen, IMO the most beautiful music ever written, and it brought tears to my eyes as always. I wish there were such beautiful things for the piano. But the hammer box can ultimately not match strings and voice in sheer beauty.

The English Suites are easier than the Partitas, but not that much. They're still large and complicated pieces. The French suites are easier again, shorter and simpler, but can still be quite a handful. And then there are the early Toccatas, bursting with youthful vigor. There is a lot to do still.

I saw your post on facebook, what an accomplishment of no small feat. Doing a complete Bach recording does seem to be a task on line with climbing Mt. Everest or a challenge of similar and immense difficulty.

Well it's not as dangerous But certainly not something many people will do. Maybe, just a wild guess, one in 10000 people or so ? Likely even less. Snobbishness lurks just around the corner now

I like these two a lot better than the end of WTC I; I think the fugues in particular are more accessible for the audience. In the last one, I felt that you had better control over the fugue than the prelude, which is the way to go in performance since the fugue is always second.As usual, your fugue phrasing kept its consistency, which makes it more enjoyable for the musicians in the crowd.

Thanks Stu. I have usually far more trouble with the preludes than with the fugues. Mainly as preludes are often fast and ornamented. A lighter action would do wonders but I have to make do with the somewhat sluggish Gaveau. Glad to hear the voicing is sort of ok. I've been bashed about that by several people over the years, and it seems to have helped a bit

The closing fugue of book I is a tortuous affair indeed, like ascending a steep mountain and almost falling down from exhaustion once or twice. It's not for the fainthearted. The victory is immense though once you proudly plant the flag on top. In comparison, the closing fugue of book 2 is a bit deadpan. I'd have liked something more monumental to close the WTC.

StuKautsch wrote:

As an aside: When you redo these, are you able to separate prelude from fugue? I.e., can you redo one without having to redo the other? Seems a shame to burn a bridge if you don't have to.

I've only done that one one or two occasions, and then very quickly after. Typically I redo both, as the piano sound and my own disposition could be different another day.

Oh, the Partitas... that other holy grail of pianism. I haven't dared contemplating them yet.

Do it! I did two of them (2 and 6); just avoid thinking of them as a set to complete and you'll do fine.

Congrats again on your second completion of the WTC. I do expect you to fix 887 one day. (I'm sure you will.)

By the way, I like the works in progress forum. I might take advantage of that; you know I never finish working on anything. But all I have to record on these days is my mom's Yamaha which is, while not completely horrible, not a Steinway.

Do it! I did two of them (2 and 6); just avoid thinking of them as a set to complete and you'll do fine.

That might be hard OTOH I don't complete lots of projects that I start so why not this one. I'll get to work on them then.

Any idea which you'll do first? I think I will do 5 next, but I've been saying that for a few years.

techneut wrote:

Terez wrote:

Congrats again on your second completion of the WTC. I do expect you to fix 887 one day. (I'm sure you will.)

I was practicing that one along with the others but somehow forgot to record it

You didn't forget 887. That's the one we discussed elsewhere.

techneut wrote:

Terez wrote:

By the way, I like the works in progress forum. I might take advantage of that; you know I never finish working on anything.

Provided you DO make progress, yeah this will be the forum for you

Eh, it's a lot of pressure. Also, I am never alone with a piano any more, which is frustrating. I might have to start practicing on a digital, which is not a good idea but better than not practicing at all.

Any idea which you'll do first? I think I will do 5 next, but I've been saying that for a few years.

I don't really know them well except 1 and 2, of which I like 2 the best, of course. That one's real corker. Problem is I have a zillion other projects on the stove already.

Terez wrote:

You didn't forget 887. That's the one we discussed elsewhere.

You've only been back a day and already managed to confuse me But I remember now, it's 890 I forgot, and 887 that's full of sh*t. I'll get to work on them. Again. . . .

Terez wrote:

Eh, it's a lot of pressure. Also, I am never alone with a piano any more, which is frustrating. I might have to start practicing on a digital, which is not a good idea but better than not practicing at all.

That must be frustrating. I'm so happy with my own piano room. It was the first prerequisite when we started looking for a new house.

Yesterday I re-recorded the G# minor pair (because of read errors in the Prelude, thx Terez) and the B-flat major pair, which I had forgotten. I hope these are ok, sort of, and think I'm now done, at least for a while, with the WTC. I decided to leave out the repeats of the B-lat major prelude, as with the repeats it seems totally out of proportion to the short fugue.

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